According to the report, the A's interest revolved around Oakland having one scout watching Peavy in a game, which is nothing unusual. However, if the A's are seriously interested in acquiring Peavy, we should consider the pros and cons of Oakland pulling off the trade.

Pros

Peavy is regarded as one of the game's best starting pitchers. His record is 7-4 with a 4.19 ERA, but with the way some of Oakland's younger pitchers have been starting to slip, like Dan Straily against the Angels, Peavy would be a great addition to the starting rotation.

Upon the return of a healthy Brett Anderson, the A's would be able to have a playoff rotation consisting of Anderson, Peavy and All-Star Bartolo Colon in any order for a trio of quality starters that the A's haven't seen since Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson.

Peavy is under contract for 2014 as well so he would be unlike many other trade targets in that he wouldn't just be a three-month rental, such as a player like Chase Utley would be.

Cons

Should the A's trade for Jake Peavy?

Yes, Peavy is who they needNo, they don't need helpNo, trade to help another positionSubmit Votevote to see results

Should the A's trade for Jake Peavy?

Yes, Peavy is who they need

38.0%

No, they don't need help

18.4%

No, trade to help another position

43.7%

Total votes: 332

As with any trade the A's would make to build up their roster for a playoff run, the price would be high to land Peavy. The A's are looking at giving up some quality prospects to land Peavy. With the A's and their low payroll, prospects are far more important to them than any other team because of their inability to sign superstars in free agency.

The A's do need to upgrade via trades, so some prospects have to be sacrificed for the sake of making more noise this year in October. Oakland has higher priorities than pitching though. Second-base anyone? The A's could survive in October with Anderson, Colon and any of their other young pitchers like Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone or maybe even Sonny Gray stepping up their game.

While it was a positive that Peavy is signed through next year, it is a negative that his contract is worth up to $29 million for this year and 2014. Once that already expensive contract is up next year, then the A's likely will watch him leave and Peavy would have been a rental after all.